Long-term outcome in chest trauma.
BACKGROUND
Currently, there are limited data available describing the long-term outcomes of chest trauma survivors. Here, the authors sought to describe chest trauma survivor outcomes 6 months and 1 yr after discharge from the intensive care unit, paying special attention to pulmonary outcomes.


METHODS
A cohort of 105 multiple trauma patients with blunt chest trauma admitted to the intensive care unit was longitudinally evaluated. After 6 months, a chest computed tomography scan, pulmonary function testing (PFT), and quality of life were collected in 55 of these patients. A subgroup of 38 patients was followed up for 1 yr.


RESULTS
At least one abnormal PFT result was found in 39 patients (71%). Compared with normalized data of the age- and sex-matched population, physical function was decreased in 38 patients (70%). The 6-min walk distance was reduced for 29 patients (72%). Although pathologic images were observed on the chest computed tomography scan from 33 patients (60%), no relation was found between PFT and computed tomography. A ratio of arterial oxygen pressure to inspired oxygen fraction less than 200 at admission to the intensive care unit predicted an abnormal PFT result at 6 months. One year after discharge from the intensive care unit, paired comparisons showed a significant increase in forced vital capacity (P = 0.02) and Karnofsky Performance Status (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Survivors of multiple traumas including chest trauma demonstrate a persistent decrease in the 6-min walk distance, impairment on PFT, and reduced pulmonary-specific quality of life.
Leone
Marc
M
Hôpital Nord, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France. marc.leone@ap-hm.fr
Brégeon
Fabienne
F
Antonini
François
F
Chaumoître
Kathia
K
Charvet
Aude
A
Ban
Leang H
LH
Jammes
Yves
Y
Albanèse
Jacques
J
Martin
Claude
C
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000639:trends; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013995:Time; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome